ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
Encyclopedia
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating (formerly the ISU Champions Series) is a series of international invitational competitions organized by the International Skating Union
. Elite figure skaters
compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles
, men's singles
, pair skating
, and ice dancing
. The junior-level equivalent is the ISU Junior Grand Prix
.
Skate Canada International
Cup of China
Trophée Eric Bompard
Cup of Russia
NHK Trophy
The series ends with the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final
, which features the top six skaters/teams from the six competitions.
, organized by the skating federations of their host countries, had been held for many years prior to their organization into a series as separate individual events . Following the Nancy Kerrigan
attack in 1994, television coverage of skating was saturated with made-for-TV professional skating events, while the traditional "amateur" or "eligible" competitions were neglected. In order to remedy this situation, in 1995, the skating federations from the United States
, Canada
, Germany
, France
, and Japan
began to plan their events as a series with cooperative marketing of the television rights in those countries, and with prize money funded by the sale of those rights. At this point, the International Skating Union
stepped in and asserted its ownership of the international television rights to the series.
When it was first created in the 1995–1996 skating season, the series was known as the ISU Champions Series. It did not become known as the Grand Prix of Figure Skating until the 1998–1999 season, when the ISU gained the rights to use that name. It originally had events in the USA, Canada, Japan, Germany, and France. An event in Russia
was added to the series in 1996, the series's second year. In the fall of 2003, the event in Germany
, the Bofrost Cup on Ice
, was discontinued, and was replaced with one in China
, due to the ISU having negotiated a more favorable television contract in that country.
In 1997, the ISU also created a similar series of developmental events for junior age-eligible skaters. Initially known as the ISU Junior Series, these events are now named the ISU Junior Grand Prix
. This season begins before the senior-level one does.
The Grand Prix of Figure Skating uses a points-based system based on results from the selected international events. The top qualifying skaters from each discipline are eligible to compete in the Grand Prix Figure Skating Final. The entry, seeding, and qualification rules for the individual events have varied from year to year, and also between the different disciplines. Typically, seeded skaters can be entered in either two or three events (the third being designated a non-scoring event), while other skaters may be entered in either one or two events.
Starting with the 2003-04 season, the Interim Judging System was introduced for scoring events in the Grand Prix. This later developed into the ISU Judging System
, often called the Code of Points (CoP), of figure skating, replacing the previous 6.0 system
.
Over the years, the ISU has experimented with different formats for the Grand Prix Final competition. In some years, skaters were required to prepare three different programs rather than the normal two, with the third program being used for a skate-off between the top two finishers in each discipline after the initial rounds. This is no longer the case.
was born a few hours into July 1, 1996 in Moscow
and consequently, was not eligible to compete until the 2011-12 season.
In 2011, minimum score requirements were added to the senior Grand Prix series and set at two-thirds of the top scores at the 2011 World Championships
. Prior to competing in a senior Grand Prix event, skaters must earn the following:
The International Skating Union decided that the minimums do not apply to "host picks", i.e. Canadians Adriana DeSanctis
and Elladj Balde
were allowed to compete at their home country's event, 2011 Skate Canada
, despite failing to reach the minimums at the 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy
.
International Skating Union
The International Skating Union is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Netherlands in 1892, making it one of the oldest international...
. Elite figure skaters
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles
Single skating
Single skating is a discipline of figure skating, wherein a single person skates alone. Men's singles and ladies' singles are both Olympic disciplines and are both governed by the International Skating Union. The other Olympic figure skating events are pair skating and ice dancing...
, men's singles
Single skating
Single skating is a discipline of figure skating, wherein a single person skates alone. Men's singles and ladies' singles are both Olympic disciplines and are both governed by the International Skating Union. The other Olympic figure skating events are pair skating and ice dancing...
, pair skating
Pair skating
Pair skating is a figure skating discipline. International Skating Union regulations describe pair teams as consisting of "one lady and one man." The sport is distinguished from ice dancing and single skating by elements unique to pair skating, including overhead lifts, twist lifts, death spirals,...
, and ice dancing
Ice dancing
Ice dancing is a form of figure skating which draws from the world of ballroom dancing. It was first competed at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, but did not become a Winter Olympic Games medal sport until 1976....
. The junior-level equivalent is the ISU Junior Grand Prix
ISU Junior Grand Prix
The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating is a series of international invitational junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. Junior figure skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing...
.
Competitions
Currently, the sanctioned competitions for the Grand Prix are: Skate AmericaSkate America
Skate America is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. It is organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. The location changes yearly...
Skate Canada International
Skate Canada International
The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's...
Cup of China
Cup of China
The Cup of China is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The location changes yearly. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.The Cup of China is...
Trophée Eric Bompard
Trophée Eric Bompard
The Trophée Eric Bompard is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The Trophée Eric Bompard was formerly known as the Trophée Lalique...
Cup of Russia
Cup of Russia
The Cup of Russia is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. It was held as the Rostelecom Cup in 2009 after...
NHK Trophy
NHK Trophy
The NHK Trophy is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing....
The series ends with the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final
Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final
The Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final is an international, senior-level figure skating competition. It is the culmination of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Skaters compete in men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing....
, which features the top six skaters/teams from the six competitions.
Background
Fall international competitions such as Skate AmericaSkate America
Skate America is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. It is organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. The location changes yearly...
, organized by the skating federations of their host countries, had been held for many years prior to their organization into a series as separate individual events . Following the Nancy Kerrigan
Nancy Kerrigan
Nancy Ann Kerrigan is a two-time American Olympic figure skating medalist and 1993 U.S. champion.-Early life and skating career:...
attack in 1994, television coverage of skating was saturated with made-for-TV professional skating events, while the traditional "amateur" or "eligible" competitions were neglected. In order to remedy this situation, in 1995, the skating federations from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
began to plan their events as a series with cooperative marketing of the television rights in those countries, and with prize money funded by the sale of those rights. At this point, the International Skating Union
International Skating Union
The International Skating Union is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Netherlands in 1892, making it one of the oldest international...
stepped in and asserted its ownership of the international television rights to the series.
When it was first created in the 1995–1996 skating season, the series was known as the ISU Champions Series. It did not become known as the Grand Prix of Figure Skating until the 1998–1999 season, when the ISU gained the rights to use that name. It originally had events in the USA, Canada, Japan, Germany, and France. An event in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
was added to the series in 1996, the series's second year. In the fall of 2003, the event in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the Bofrost Cup on Ice
Bofrost Cup on Ice
The Bofrost Cup on Ice was a figure skating competition held in Germany between 1986 and 2004. It was part of the Grand Prix series until 2003, when it was replaced by Cup of China. Following being booted out of the Grand Prix series, a new form of competition was introduced to the Bofrost Cup...
, was discontinued, and was replaced with one in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, due to the ISU having negotiated a more favorable television contract in that country.
In 1997, the ISU also created a similar series of developmental events for junior age-eligible skaters. Initially known as the ISU Junior Series, these events are now named the ISU Junior Grand Prix
ISU Junior Grand Prix
The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating is a series of international invitational junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. Junior figure skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing...
. This season begins before the senior-level one does.
Qualifying
Skaters are entered in the individual events either by being seeded or by invitation. The seeding of top skaters at Grand Prix events basically takes into account their placement from the previous World Championships, as well as their ISU international ranking. Skaters who are not seeded can be invited by the hosting country and each country can invite up to three of their own skaters for each discipline. This is to give a balanced field throughout the series, as well as allowing the hosting country a chance to showcase their top competitors.The Grand Prix of Figure Skating uses a points-based system based on results from the selected international events. The top qualifying skaters from each discipline are eligible to compete in the Grand Prix Figure Skating Final. The entry, seeding, and qualification rules for the individual events have varied from year to year, and also between the different disciplines. Typically, seeded skaters can be entered in either two or three events (the third being designated a non-scoring event), while other skaters may be entered in either one or two events.
Starting with the 2003-04 season, the Interim Judging System was introduced for scoring events in the Grand Prix. This later developed into the ISU Judging System
ISU Judging System
The ISU Judging System , is the scoring system on the event and on the level of competition. At the senior international level, single and pairs short programs contain eight technical elements. The actual eight elements are detailed for single skaters in ISU rule 310...
, often called the Code of Points (CoP), of figure skating, replacing the previous 6.0 system
6.0 system
The 6.0 system was the judging system used in competitive figure skating until 2005, when it was replaced by the ISU Judging System in international events....
.
Over the years, the ISU has experimented with different formats for the Grand Prix Final competition. In some years, skaters were required to prepare three different programs rather than the normal two, with the third program being used for a skate-off between the top two finishers in each discipline after the initial rounds. This is no longer the case.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the senior Grand Prix series, skaters are required to have turned 14 by the preceding July 1 (e.g. July 1, 2009 for the 2009-10 series). A skater must meet the age requirement before it turns July 1 in their place of birth. For example, Adelina SotnikovaAdelina Sotnikova
Adelina Dmitriyevna Sotnikova is a Russian figure skater. She is the 2011 World Junior champion, 2010 Junior Grand Prix Final champion and two-time Russian National champion.- Career :...
was born a few hours into July 1, 1996 in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and consequently, was not eligible to compete until the 2011-12 season.
In 2011, minimum score requirements were added to the senior Grand Prix series and set at two-thirds of the top scores at the 2011 World Championships
2011 World Figure Skating Championships
The 2011 World Figure Skating Championships are the World Figure Skating Championships for the 2010–2011 season. They are an annual figure skating competition in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion....
. Prior to competing in a senior Grand Prix event, skaters must earn the following:
| Discipline | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Men | 168.60 |
| Ladies | 117.48 |
| Pairs | 130.71 |
| Ice dance | 111.15 |
The International Skating Union decided that the minimums do not apply to "host picks", i.e. Canadians Adriana DeSanctis
Adriana DeSanctis
Adriana DeSanctis is a Canadian figure skater. She has competed three times at the Canadian National Championships, achieving her best a 5th place finish in 2011.-Competitive highlights:-External links:*...
and Elladj Balde
Elladj Baldé
Elladj Baldé is a Canadian figure skater. He is the 2008 Canadian Junior champion.- Career :Baldé won the junior silver medal at the 2007 Canadian Championships and won the junior title at the 2008 Canadian Championships...
were allowed to compete at their home country's event, 2011 Skate Canada
2011 Skate Canada International
The 2011 Skate Canada International was an ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition in the 2011–2012 season. Organized by Skate Canada, it was the second of six events in the 2011–2012 ISU Grand Prix, a series of senior-level international invitational competitions.The event was held in the...
, despite failing to reach the minimums at the 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy
2011 Nebelhorn Trophy
The 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy was an international figure skating competition for the 2011–2012 season. It is held annually in Oberstdorf, Germany and is named after the Nebelhorn, a nearby mountain....
.
2011–2012 season
The events and dates for the 2011-2012 season have been assigned as follows:| Event | Location | Date Begin | Date End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Skate America 2011 Skate America The 2011 Skate America was an ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition in the 2011–2012 season. Organized by the United States Figure Skating Association, it was the first of six events in the 2011–2012 ISU Grand Prix, a series of senior-level international invitational competitions.The event... |
Ontario, California Ontario, California Ontario is a city located in San Bernardino County, California, United States, 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire region, it lies just east of the Los Angeles county line and is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area... |
October 21, 2011 | October 23, 2011 |
| 2011 Skate Canada | Mississauga, Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
October 28, 2011 | October 30, 2011 |
| 2011 Cup of China 2011 Cup of China The 2011 Cup of China was the Cup of China Grand Prix competition of the 2011–2012 season. Organized by the Chinese Skating Association, it was the third event of six in the 2011–2012 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, a senior-level international invitational competition series.The event was held... |
Shanghai Shanghai Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010... , China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... |
November 4, 2011 | November 6, 2011 |
| 2011 NHK Trophy 2011 NHK Trophy The 2011 NHK Trophy will be the NHK Trophy Grand Prix competition of the 2011–2012 season and the fourth of six events in the 2011–2012 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, a senior-level international invitational competition series. The event is organized annually by the Japan Skating Federation.The... |
Sapporo, Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
November 11, 2011 | November 13, 2011 |
| 2011 Trophée Eric Bompard 2011 Trophée Eric Bompard The 2011 Trophée Eric Bompard was the Trophée Eric Bompard Grand Prix competition of the 2011–2012 season. Organized by the Federation Française des Sports de Glace, it was the fifth event of six in the 2011–2012 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, a senior-level international invitational... |
Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
November 18, 2011 | November 20, 2011 |
| 2011 Rostelecom Cup | Moscow Moscow Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent... , Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
November 25, 2011 | November 27, 2011 |
| 2011–2012 Grand Prix Final 2011–2012 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final The 2011–2012 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final will be the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final and the Junior Grand Prix Final competition of the 2011–2012 season... |
Quebec City Quebec City Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest... , Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
December 8, 2011 | December 11, 2011 |
External links
- ISU Grand Prix Main Page
- Medals table and winner information, 1995–2002
- 1998–1999 Grand Prix
- 1999–2000 Grand Prix
- 2000–2001 Grand Prix
- 2001–2002 Grand Prix
- 2002–2003 Grand Prix
- 2003–2004 Grand Prix
- 2004–2005 Grand Prix
- 2005–2006 Grand Prix
- 2006–2007 Grand Prix information
- 2007–2008 Grand Prix information